The Director General of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), Yankuba Askia Bio has led a high-level delegation to the Conference of African Ports (COPAF 2026), held in Casablanca, Morocco, from October 19-21, 2026, under the theme “African Smart Port: AI and Cybersecurity Driving Performance.”

Addressing fellow port leaders, Mr. Bio highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and robust cybersecurity in improving port efficiency, protecting critical infrastructure and strengthening Africa’s trade competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (#AfCFTA). “If these arteries are clogged by inefficiency or compromised by vulnerability, the entire body of African trade suffers,” he stated, underscoring the strategic importance of efficient and secure ports to Africa’s economic integration.

He also emphasized SLPHA’s shift towards predictive intelligence and the need to treat cybersecurity with the same seriousness as physical security. He encouraged African port authorities to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in implementing #AI and cybersecurity systems.

The Conference concluded with a call for collective African action against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, recognizing that no port or country can effectively tackle these challenges alone.

The SLPHA delegation included the Directors of Research, Planning and Development; Technical Services; and Internal Audit and Compliance.

Closing with a shared commitment to building smarter, more efficient and more secure African ports, the conference’s final resolution captured the collective ambition of participants: “The future of African trade is smart. The future of African trade is secure. And the future of African trade is in our hands.”